Provincial School Closure Announcement – Director’s Message to Families
April 12, 2021,
Dear parents and guardians,
As you are likely aware, the provincial government has ordered the closure of all schools following the April break and the transition for all students from in-person learning to virtual learning until further notice.
As such, all schools in the Peterborough Victoria Northumberland and Clarington Catholic District School Board will move to virtual learning effective Monday, April 19.
Classroom teachers will connect with students on Monday, April 19 to begin the transition to virtual learning. Schools will be reaching out to families who require additional technology support early next week.
Here are the important key facts from this afternoon’s provincial announcement:
- The Ontario government, in consultation with the Chief Medical Officer of Health, has made the difficult decision to move elementary and secondary schools to remote learning following the April break.
- This move has been made in response to the rapid increase in COVID-19 cases, the increasing risks posed to the public by COVID-19 variants, and the significant spike in hospital admissions.
- The province will be assessing data on an ongoing basis and consulting health officials to determine when it will be safe to resume in-person learning.
- Child care for non-school aged children will remain open, before and after school programs will be closed and free emergency child care for the school-aged children of eligible health care and frontline workers will be provided.
- To protect the most vulnerable, boards will make provisions for continued in-person support for students with special education needs who require additional support that cannot be accommodated through remote learning. Beginning the week of April 19, principals will be working closely with staff and families of students with special needs who meet this criteria to make arrangements for in person learning.
We will continue to keep you updated regarding a date for return to in-person learning as more information is shared with us.
Thank you for your continued patience and understanding as we continue to move through this challenging time.
Sincerely,
Joan Carragher
Director of Education